Grammy nominees announced, Mary J. shines

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno

      The Grammy nominees were announced yesterday in Los Angeles and Mary J Blige came out on top with the most nominations. Already having just won two American Music Awards and nine Billboard Awards, Mary J. Blige was nominated for eight Grammy awards including the prestigious Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

      Other nominees include Ganrls Barkley, The Roots, T.I., Chamillionaire, Outkast and Lupe Fiasco. The Grammy Awards will air live on February 11 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

      Here’s a partial list of the nominees (For a full list, check out GRAMMY) :

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Ring The Alarm
  Beyoncé
  Track from: B’Day
  [Sony Urban Music/Columbia]
• Be Without You
  Mary J. Blige
  Track from: The Breakthrough
  [Geffen Records]
• Don’t Forget About Us
  Mariah Carey
  Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition)
  [Island Records]
• Day Dreaming
  Natalie Cole
  Track from: Leavin’
  [Verve Records]
• I Am Not My Hair
  India.Arie
  Track from: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
  [Motown Records]
  
  
  
  

Category 24

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Heaven
  John Legend
  Track from: Once Again
  [Columbia/GOOD/Sony Urban Music]
• So Sick
  Ne-Yo
  Track from: In My Own Words
  [Def Jam Recordings]
• Black Sweat
  Prince
  Track from: 3121
  [Universal Records]
• I Call It Love
  Lionel Richie
  Track from: Coming Home
  [Island Def Jam Recordings]
• Got You Home
  Luther Vandross
  [J Records/Epic/Legacy Recordings]
  
  
  
  

Category 25

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Breezin’
  George Benson & Al Jarreau
  Track from: Givin’ It Up
  [Concord Records/Monster Music]
• Love Changes
  Jamie Foxx Featuring Mary J. Blige
  Track from: Unpredictable
  [J Records]
• Everyday (Family Reunion)
  Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams & Carl Thomas
  Track from: Madea’s Family Reunion — Music From The Motion Picture
  [Motown Records]
• Family Affair
  (Sly & The Family Stone), John Legend, Joss Stone With Van Hunt
  Track from: Different Strokes By Different Folks
  [Epic/Legacy Recordings]
• Beautiful, Loved And Blessed
  Prince & Támar
  Track from: 3121
  [Universal Records]
  
  
  
  

Category 26

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Christmas Time Is Here
  Anita Baker
  Track from: Christmas Fantasy
  [Blue Note Records]
• God Bless The Child
  George Benson & Al Jarreau Featuring Jill Scott
  Track from: Givin’ It Up
  [Concord Records/Monster Music]
• I Found My Everything
  Mary J. Blige Featuring Raphael Saadiq
  Track from: The Breakthrough
  [Geffen Records]
• You Are So Beautiful
  Sam Moore Featuring Billy Preston, Zucchero, Eric Clapton & Robert Randolph
  Track from: Overnight Sensational
  [Rhino Entertainment]
• How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
  The Temptations
  Track from: Reflections
  [New Door Records]
  
  
  
  

Category 27

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Crazy
  Gnarls Barkley
  Track from: St. Elsewhere
  [Downtown/Atlantic]
• That Heat
  Segio Mendes Featuring Erykah Badu & Will.i.am
  Track from: Timeless
  [Concord Records/Hear Music]
• Mas Que Nada
  Sergio Mendes Featuring The Black Eyed Peas
  Track from: Timeless
  [Concord Records/Hear Music/Will.i.am music]
• Idlewild Blue (Don’t Chu Worry ‘Bout Me)
  Outkast
  Track from: Idlewild
  [La Face Records/Zomba Label Group]
• 3121
  Prince
  Track from: 3121
  [Universal Records]
  
  
  
  

Category 28

Best R&B Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• Be Without You
  Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)
  Track from: The Breakthrough
  [Geffen Records; Publishers: Chrysalis Music, Mary J. Blige Music, Naked Under My Clothes Music, Universal Music Corp., Babyboy’s Little Publishing, Jason’s Lyrics, Noontime South, Reach Global Tunes, WB Music.]
• Black Sweat
  Prince, songwriter (Prince)
  Track from: 3121
  [Universal Records; Publisher: Controversy Music.]
• Deja Vu
  Shawn Carter, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Beyoncé Knowles, Makeba, Keli Nicole Price & Delisha Thomas, songwriters (Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z)
  [Sony Urban Music/Columbia; Publishers: Beyoncé Publishing, EMI Blackwood Music, 23000 Music Publishing, Makeba Yoga Flames Music/Janice Combs Publishing/EMI Blackwood, Price Tag, EMI April Music/Carter Boys Publishing.]
• Don’t Forget About Us
  Johnta Austin, Mariah Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jermaine Dupri, songwriters (Mariah Carey)
  Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Ultra Platinum Edition)
  [Island Records; Publishers: Rye Songs, Shaniah Cymone Music, EMI April Music, Babyboy’s Little Publishing Company, Noontime South, Naked Under My Clothes, Chrysalis Music.]
• I Am Not My Hair
  Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders & India Arie Simpson, songwriters (India.Arie)
  Track from: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
  [Motown Records; Publishers: Gold & Iron Music, Wang Out Music Sony, Combustion Windswept, Noka International/Famous Music.]
  
  
  
  

Category 29

Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• The Breakthrough
  Mary J. Blige
  [Geffen Records]
• Unpredictable
  Jamie Foxx
  [J Records]
• Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
  India.Arie
  [Motown Records]
• 3121
  Prince
  [Universal Republic]
• Coming Home
  Lionel Richie
  [Island Def Jam Recordings]
  
  
  
  

Category 30

Best Contemporary R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• B’Day
  Beyoncé
  [Sony Urban Music/Columbia]
• Chris Brown
  Chris Brown
  [Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]
• 20 Y.O.
  Janet Jackson
  [Virgin Records]
• Kelis Was Here
  Kelis
  [Jive Records/Zomba Label Group/Dope Entertainment]
• In My Own Words
  Ne-Yo
  [Def Jam Recordings]
  
  
  
  

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Field 7 — Rap

Category 31

Best Rap Solo Performance
(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Touch It
  Busta Rhymes
  Track from: The Big Bang
  [Aftermath/Interscope Records]
• We Run This
  Missy Elliott
  Track from: The Cookbook
  [Goldmind/Atlantic]
• Kick, Push
  Lupe Fiasco
  Track from: Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
  [1st & 15th/Atlantic]
• Undeniable
  Mos Def
  [Geffen Records]
• What You Know
  T.I.
  Track from: King
  [Grand Hustle/Atlantic]
  
  
  
  

Category 32

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Ridin
  Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone
  [Universal Records]
• Georgia
  Ludacris & Field Mob (Featuring Jamie Foxx)
  Track from: Ludacris Presents…Disturbing Tha Peace And From Field Mob — Light Poles And Pine Trees
  [DTP/Geffen/Def Jam Recordings]
• Grillz
  Nelly Featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp
  Track from: Sweatsuit
  [Universal Records]
• Mighty "O"
  Outkast
  [La Face/Zomba Label Group]
• Don’t Feel Right
  The Roots
  [Def Jam Recordings]
  
  
  
  

Category 33

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
(For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Smack That
  Akon Featuring Eminem
  [SRC/Universal Records]
• Deja Vu
  Beyoncé Featuring Jay-Z
  [Sony Urban Music/Columbia]
• Shake That
  Eminem Featuring Nate Dogg
  Track from: Curtain Call — The Hits
  [Aftermath/Shady/Interscope Records]
• Unpredictable
  Jamie Foxx Featuring Ludacris
  Track from: Unpredictable
  [J Records]
• My Love
  Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.
  Track from: FutureSex/LoveSounds
  [Jive Records/Zomba Label Group]
  
  
  
  

Category 34

Best Rap Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• It’s Goin’ Down
  Chadron Moore & Jasiel Robinson, songwriters (Yung Joc)
  Track from: New Joc City
  [Bad Boy South; Publishers: Granny Man Publishing, Malik/Mekhi Music, Basement Funk, Regina‘s Son Music.]
• Kick, Push
  Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, songwriter (Lupe Fiasco)
  Track from: Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
  [1st & 15th/Atlantic; Publishers: Hey Lu Chill Music/Heavy as Heaven, 1st & 15th Publishing/Mr. Lopez Music.]
• Money Maker
  Christopher Bridges & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Ludacris Featuring Pharrell)
  Track from: Release Therapy
  [Disturbing The Peace/Def Jam Recordings; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Waters of Nazareth Publishing.]
• Ridin
  Anthony Henderson, J. Slainas, O. Salinas & Hakeem Seriki, songwriters
  (Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone)
  [Universal Records; Publishers: Chamilitary Camp Music, Play-N-Skilz Music, EMI Publishing.]
• What You Know
  A. Davis & Clifford Harris, songwriters; (Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson & Curtis Mayfield, songwriters) (T.I.)
  Track from: King
  [Grand Hustle/Atlantic; Publishers: Club Crown Publishing, Toomp Stone Publishing, Careers-BMG Music, WB Music Corp., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing.]
  
  
  
  

Category 35

Best Rap Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
  Lupe Fiasco
  [1st & 15th/Atlantic]
• Release Therapy
  Ludacris
  [Disturbing Tha Peace]
• In My Mind
  Pharrell
  [Star Trak/Interscope Records]
• Game Theory
  The Roots
  [Def Jam Recordings]
• King
  T.I.
  [Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
(A Producer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parenthesis.))

• Howard Benson
  • Every Man For Himself (Hoobastank) (A)
  • Flyleaf (Flyleaf) (A)
  • In With The Out Crowd (Less Than Jake) (A)
  • One-X (Three Days Grace) (A)
  • The Paramour Sessions (Papa Roach) (A)
  • Popaganda (Head Automatica) (A)
  • Saosin (Saosin) (A)
• T Bone Burnett
  • Thunderbird (Cassandra Wilson) (A)
  • The True False Identity (T Bone Burnett) (A)
  • Walk The Line — Soundtrack (Joaquin Phoenix & Various Artists) (A)
• Danger Mouse
  • Pieces Of The People We Love (The Rapture) (T)
  • St. Elsewhere (Gnarls Barkley) (A)
• Rick Rubin
  • American V: A Hundred Highways (Johnny Cash) (A)
  • God’s Gonna Cut You Down (Johnny Cash) (T)
  • Stadium Arcadium (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (A)
  • Taking The Long Way (Dixie Chicks) (A)
  • 12 Songs (Neil Diamond) (A)
• Will.i.am
  • About You (Mary J. Blige Featuring Will.i.am) (T)
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie) (T)
  • Damn Girl (Justin Timberlake Featuring Will.i.am) (T)
  • I Am Somebody (Santana Featuring Will.i.am) (T)
  • I Love My B**** (Busta Rhymes Featuring Kelis & Will.i.am) (T)
  • Mas Que Nada (Sergio Mendes Featuring The Black Eyed Peas) (T)
  • Timeless (Sergio Mendes) (A)